Leather-splitting machine



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1. A. E. DGDGE.

LEATHER SELITTING MACHINE.

No. 337,820. Patented Mar. 16, 1886.

A s i 'Mf/inees: 17u/enfer:

MQ V* M 7 Mig (No Model l 2 sheets-sheet 2. A. E. DDGE.

LEATHER SPLITIING MACHINE.

No. 337,820. Patented Mar. 16, 1886.

Mtnesses:

N. PETERS. Phulo-L'huwmpher, Wnhngtan. D.C.

Nieren STATES 'i ArnNT OFFICE.

A. EDGAR DODGE, OF VOBURN, MASSACHUSETTS.

SEEQIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 337,820, dated March 16I 1886.

Application filed April 13, 1855. Serial No. 162,130. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, A. EDG-AR DODGE, of lVoburn, county of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Leather-Splitting Machines, of which the following description forms, in connection with the accompanying drawings, a full, clear, concise, and exact specification.

In said drawings, Figure l is a front elevation. Figs. 2 and 3 are end views from the left and right, respectively, of Fig l. Fig. 4 is a section on line .c x, Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a plan view. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section on line y y, Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a section of the draw-rolls open and showing gage-roll thrown back, and Fig. S shows the draw-roll gears when the rolls are in position shown in Fig. 7

The object of my invention is the construction of a machine by which a side of leather may be split, in order to produce a grain side of uniform thickness throughout and of the same density as the original unsplit piece, and thus avoid obtaining uniformity of thickness by compression.

My invention consists, chiefly, in the mechanism hereinafter more fully described for conducting the leather to the splitting-knife, for gaging it at the cutting-point in order to obtain a piece of uniform thickness, and for feeding or drawing it forward against the cutting-edge and through the machine.

I will describe my invention, using letters of reference to the accompanying drawings.

' Between the end supporting-frames, A A, is set the roller a, which is loosely mounted in open bearings on projections from the frame, as shown, Figs. 2 and 3, and which `serves to support the piece of leather B while it is passing toward the splitting-knife. As the leather leaves the roll a it passes over a table, b, consisting, preferably, of thin metal having some elasticity and mounted on a support, d, which is supported at either end on a pin, e, set in the frame, the ends of the piece /Z being provided with a notch or recess to receive the pins. The table b projects from the piece d,

on which it is mounted, (see Fig..4,) to a point very near the edge of the splitting-knifef, and is supported at this point upon a piecc orpieces of rubber, tf/,or other equivalent elastic material, which yield and allow the table to be depressed to accommodate any thick spot or excrescence in the leather'. The table being of thin metal having elasticity an excrescence in the leather will depress the table at one point only, while at other points, where the leather is of normal thickness, no such depression will exist. In other words, the elasticity of the table permits the irregularities of the leather to sink into it and thus appear wholly in the skiving without producing a corresponding density in the split leather, which would result if the table did not yield, 0r an irregularity in the split, which would result if the entire edge of the table were depressed at the same time. This ridge of rubber or equivalent material might, instead of being composed of a number of small pieces, be made in two or three parts only, or even in one piece, and very good results obtained. I prefer, however, for the best results to make it in a number of pieces or sections, as shown, each of which may be separately adjusted. The pieces y of rubber are mounted (see Figs. 4 and 6) in a case, h, provided at either end with trunnions It', set in bearings in the frame. The space in the upper portion of the case receives the pieces g, which are supported independently of each other on a supportingblock provided with a spindle, j, which is received in a socket in the case h, and against the lower end of which a set-screw, k, set in the under side of the case h, bears.

By means of the set-screws the pieces g may be aligned or adjusted, as described.

At one end of case h is secured an arm, l, having its free end upturned and provided in the npturn with a set-screw, n, which bears against a downwardly-projecting arm, ym, from the piece d on which the table is mounted. By setting up the screw n the line of rubber pieces g may be carried slightly backward away from the edge of the knife, thus lowering the inner edge of the table b and lessening the thickness of the grain-side split. By this arrangement a positive and delicate adjustment is obtained. The outer end of one ofthe trnnnions of the case It is fitted with a lever, o, (see Fig. 3,) by means of which the case may be thrown back, thus lowering the arm Z, freeing it from the arm m, and allowing the inner edge of the table to drop down, the parts taking the position indicated by the dotted lines, Fig. 4, thus exposing the knife-edge when the machine is not in use, in order that it may be sharpened without removing it from the machine. Theknife is secured on the supporting-piece q, which rests at either end in is tightly clamped to the top of its support.

Directly above the edge of the knife a beam, s, is set, j ournaled at either end in the frame. (See Fig. 6.) The gage-roll t is journaled at either end in the under side of the beam s, in which a concavity is formed to receive it, and at several points throughout the length of roll t are set the small rolls u, which are mounted in sockets above the gage-roll, (see Fig. 4,) their bearings being connected with set-screws w, projecting above the piece s, by means of which the rolls u may be set against the gageroll to prevent it from springing and to insure an even pressure on the piece of leather which is being split. The gage-roll is centered as near as may be directly above the cuttingedge in order to act upon the leather only at this point. The beam s is provided at one end with a lever, n, by raising which the beam may be rocked on its bearings and the gageroll may be raised from the stock and away from the knife whenever desired. (See Fig. 7.) The beam s is also mounted in sliding bearings of well known construction, by which it, and consequently the gage-roll, may be vertically adjusted. A lug, a', on the top of the beam s at either end thereof, is in contact with the set-screws b', set in projections of the frame. By setting up the screw the beam s may be slightly turned on its bearings, and thus the gage-roll be horizontally adjusted. The split c which is taken from the piece of leather falls downwardly clear of the machine through the open space beneath the knifeedge. Ihe grain side passes over the knife and over a roll, c', set on thedriving-shaft,

which is provided at one end with a gear, d, Fig. 3, by which it is connected through the intermediate gear, i', with the gear p, set on the shaft M, mounted in the frame.

The driving-shaft is shown with the driving-pulleyD tted with afriction-clutch mechanism of well-known construction, by means of which the pulley may be made fast to the shaft when itis desired to start the machine. rIhe gear p meshes with the gear f/ on the shaft of the roll g, between which and the roll c the grain side of the leather which has been split passes. By the action of these rolls, which revolve in opposite directions, and which grip the grain side of the stock, the piece of leather is drawn past the cutting-edge and through the machine.

The rolls g c may be of any suitable material; but I prefer to cover the roll g with a layer of rubber, and to make the outer portion of the roll c of wood or metal.

In mounting the roll g, I provide at either end of the machine a lever, K, of the form shown in Fig. 4, which is pivoted on the shaft v M of gear p. In the upper ends of these levers K, I mount the shaft of roll y', and to the lower ends I pivot the connecting-rods K',

the lower ends of which are pivoted to the treadle L. n

When the machine is not in use, the treadle L is held up'by the spiral spring P, which is connected below to the treadle and above to the frame. (See Fig. 4.) By depressing the treadle the lower ends of levers K are pulled down, throwing their upper ends and the roll g toward roll c and in contact with the stop, and causing it to be drawn forward. As the roll g is'at the same distance from the driv-v ing-shaft, whether the roll is forward or back, the gears p and f do not get out of mesh. In order that the operator may work lover the rolls without danger, a hood or cover, p', Figs. 3 and 4, is provided, secured to the frame.

In starting the machine, the drawing-rolls g c being apart and the gage-roll t thrown back fromI the knife, the hide is brought over the table and one edge, or the thin part at the head is brought over the knife-edge a sufcient distance to allow the operator to seize it with pinchers. The gage-roll is then lowered onto it, and the operator draws the leather past the knife until the upperor grain side is through a sufficient distance tolap onto the lower draw-roll, c'. When this point is reached, the grain side is laid over this roll, the foot is placed on the treadle L, and

the upper draw-roll, g', is brought down, yand the stock is seized and drawn by the rolls through the machine.

What I claim is- 1. The combination, with the splitting-knife f and stock-supporting table b, of the gageroll t, mounted on a journaled support and provided with the adjustable presser-rolls u, whereby a uniform pressure of the gage-roll throughout its length is obtained, substantially as specified. j y.

2. A'leather-splitting machine having a table fast'to a pivotal support, d, at one side, and'at the other sustained by a supportingpiece hung on journals below the level of the table, whereby as said support is turned on its journals the front end ofthe table is lowered, for the purposes and substantially as shown and described. n

3. The combination, in a leather-splitting machine, with the driving-shaft carrying the draw-roll c', of pinion d', intermediate gears,V t' and p, pinion f', andA draw-roll g', substantially as shown and described. v y

4. The table b, mounted as shown, in conibination with case h, provided with blocks g,y

Witnesses:

WM. A. MAcLEoD, ROBERT WALLACE.

A. EDGAR DODGE. I

vI IO 

